Hi All > > Another interesting thing is that it has been scientifically > > proven that the foraging urge of bees is in direct relation to the > > amount of empty comb available to the bees. (within reason) Allen Wrote: > > I've read some on this -- and yet I find this to be a generality > that I have trouble understanding. I don't doubt its truth, I just > wonder about its universality. I believe the original research was done in temperate regions, but have noticed that my bees here in South Africa respond to similar stimuli. > spring and early summer. Not only does the extra comb prevent > swarming to some extent and allow room for sudden flows that are > unexpected by a beekeeper, but there does actually seem to be a > stimulant effect on bee buildup. I have also noticed this effect on buildup, and have noticed also that often when bees have extra space they will move a lot of honey out of the nest area into the supers. This seems only to apply during hot periods. > noticeable in the late summer in temperate regions: if the amount of > space above the brood nest is excessive, the bees withdraw to the > brood section -- especially if excluders are used, and are unable to > occupy the entire hive. They also have to heat this area. I have been told by a number of beekeepers in this area that they find their best results are to leave three supers on the hives for the warm months and then to cut down to one shallow for the winter months with regular inspection. This is also partly because the winter months produce honey flows that crystalize very fast. > If bees are unable to continuously occupy an area of a hive they > seem reluctant to fill it permanently with honey. This is one And they are also prone to being robbed if they cannot occupy the space. My main observation here has been that the greatest stimulus to bees is to pull three supers and replace with spun ones. The increase in hive productivity is most probably not due to increased space as much as it is due to a sudden burst in brood rearing caused by the bees having surplus energy after cleaning up the supers. Also if any pollen had been hidden in the supers by honey, it will now be exposed and the bees can use it for rearing?? Keep well Garth Garth Cambray Camdini Apiaries Grahamstown Apis mellifera capensis Eastern Cape Prov. South Africa Time = Honey Standard Disclaimer applies to this post.